Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will host a series of events during the month of November in recognition of World Diabetes Day (WDD), screening thousands of residents across the country and raising awareness around how to better manage and prevent the disease.

Observed each year on 14 November, WDD was introduced by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991 in response to the global increase in diabetes cases. The global awareness campaign is aimed at increasing understanding of diabetes risk factors, symptoms and prevention.

"Raising awareness of diabetes through events such as World Diabetes Day is critical. At HMC we devote a significant amount of time to educating our patients, and the public, about diabetes and its risk factors because we recognize it is important that the whole community understands this disease. It is only through greater public awareness and education that we will be able to lessen the burden of this disease," said Mrs. Manal Othman, Director of Diabetes Education at HMC.

HMC’s major public outreach and awareness activities this year will include public screenings in Doha, Al Khor, Al Wakra and Mesaieed and a multi-cultural healthy food expo at Hamad General, Women’s, Al Khor and Al Wakra Hospitals. The expo will provide patients and visitors with an opportunity to sample a variety of cuisines and learn about healthier food options from diabetes educators and dietitians.

The schedule of planned events also includes a number of diabetes education sessions and competitions for students and teachers and a mobile clinic at Sealine Beach Resort in Mesaieed that will feature dietary education, blood glucose screening and prize giveaways.

The WDD activities complement the awareness campaign launched by HMC last year and are designed to increase public understanding of diabetes and to empower residents to take control over their health. The campaign highlights risk factors of the disease, raising awareness of associated signs and symptoms and providing strategies to manage and prevent diabetes and lifestyle-related conditions.

With recent statistics suggesting that over seventy percent of the population is overweight, raising community awareness of healthy lifestyle practices is a vital strategy for reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Qatar.

For the complete list of HMC WDD events, visit diabetes.hamad.qa.

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QNE

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